Nation Contributing Editor Stephen F. Cohen and John Batchelor continue their weekly discussions of the new US-Russian Cold War. (Previous installments are at TheNation.com.) Last week’s discussion revisited episodes of US-Soviet détente in the 20th century, from Eisenhower and Nixon to Reagan, and the lessons to be learned from them. One was a pro-détente president’s need for determination, leadership skills, advisers, and domestic allies to offset what is certain to be ferocious opposition to any truly reciprocal negotiations with (now) “Putin’s Russia.”
No, Russian Agents Are Not Behind Every Piece of Fake News You See (Fortune Magazine)
In a recent story, the Washington Post says that this is definitely the case, based on information provided by two groups of what the paper calls “independent researchers.” But the case starts to come apart at the seams the more you look at it.
Trump should embrace ‘dual conciliation’ abroad (Steven Kinzer)
Trump appears ready to break away from Washington’s anti-Russia consensus, but he remains a prisoner of the anti-Iran consensus. This is the central contradiction of his emerging foreign policy.
Russia’s Lavrov, U.S.’s Kerry, in phone call, discuss Syria’s Aleppo (Reuters)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry discussed “normalization” of the situation in the besieged Syrian city of Aleppo on Tuesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
US Ambassador to UN: ‘Russian terror’ against Syrian civilians will only cause more terror (Business Insider)
UN Ambassador Samantha Power continues in her efforts to undermine John Kerry’s diplomatic efforts in Syria.
Demonstrators storm offices, bank in Kiev, Ukraine (UPI)
Protesters vandalized several offices in Kiev, Ukraine, in a pro-Ukrainian, anti-Russian demonstration, police said.
Editor’s note: The ACEWA Newsletter Will Return Monday, November, 28.
Happy Thanksgiving and Thanks to Our Readers.
Lazy Journalism: On Russia and the Media (Paul Robinson)
There are lots of stories which could legitimately be used to paint Russia in a bad light. But instead of doing the hard work of investigatory journalism, they instead propose radical ideas based on wild speculation. In this way, their work comes to resemble the ‘Russian propaganda’ they so like to despise.
President Obama changes his mind on Russia (Patrick Armstrong)
Patrick Armstrong notes the evolution in the President’s thinking regarding Russia and its relevance and reach globally.
Russia responds to NATO advance with missiles in its Europe enclave (CBS News)
U.S. officials have always maintained that the missile defense shield in Romania is aimed at protecting against a missile threat from Iran. But NATO decided in early 2015 to establish new command-and-control centers in Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria by the end of 2016, and those sites are indisputably intended to serve as a warning to an increasingly aggressive Russia that NATO remains resolute in its commitment to defend all members.
Russian President Putin says Trump confirmed willing to mend ties (Reuters)
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday U.S. President-elect Donald Trump confirmed to him he was willing to mend ties, though he also said he would welcome President Barack Obama in Russia.
Senators vow to counter Trump on Russia (The Hill)
Skeptical of Trump’s warmer relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, lawmakers in both parties are breaking with the incoming administration to carve out a tougher stance.
Obama, Putin talk about Syria and Ukraine in quick summit meet (Reuters)
U.S. President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin spoke for around four minutes on Sunday at the APEC summit about Syria and Ukraine, in what is likely to be their last in-person meeting before Obama leaves office.
The Washington Post Is in Full McCarthyist Attack Mode (Matthew Dal Santo)
What is the convention regarding connections between a foreign government and a candidate for public office?
Consider a recent story in the Washington Post.
Obama urges Trump against realpolitik in relations with Russia (The Guardian)
Barack Obama has warned the US president-elect, Donald Trump, against taking a purely “realpolitik approach” to relations with Russia and encouraged his successor to continue standing up for American values.
Russia: Cautious Hope (Carnegie Endowment)
The Kremlin did not anticipate Trump’s electoral victory. It was preparing for Hillary Clinton and the prospect of U.S.-Russian relations continuing to deteriorate, with a not-too-trivial chance of a kinetic collision between Russian and U.S. forces—such as through the imposition of a no-fly zone in Syria, which Clinton supported.
Dreaming Up a Reason for NATO’s Relevance (Consortium News)
European leaders still rattle their tiny sabers at Russia, but Donald Trump’s election has spread confusion across NATO nations that had dutifully climbed aboard the New Cold War express, says ex-British intelligence officer Annie Machon.
The Enemy Within (Paul Robinson)
In democratic countries, disagreeing with government policy is nothing unusual. But Russophobic paranoia has reached such a peak that those who dare to propose better relations with Russia are increasingly facing pressure to be silent.
PODCAST: Will President-Elect Trump End the New Cold War? (Stephen F. Cohen)
Nation Contributing Editor Stephen F. Cohen and John Batchelor continue their weekly discussions of the new US-Russian Cold War. (Previous installments are at TheNation.com). This installment focuses on an existential question: Will, or can, a President Trump enact a policy of détente—replacing elements of conflict with elements of cooperation—in US relations with Russia?
It’s not Donald Trump who matters now in the Middle East – it’s Putin (Robert Fisk)
US foreign policy in the Middle East has been a spectacular series of wars and air raids and retreats. Russian policy – in the Yemen war during Nasser’s age and in Afghanistan – has been destructive enough, but the post-Soviet state seemed to have curled its claws until Putin moved his men into Syria.